The afternoon sun beat down on them relentlessly. When Benjamin grabbed water from his backpack, Roscoe’s head shot up. He spotted a small, clear pool of water farther ahead. “Look!”

Clementine sprinted along the edge of the cliff. “Aagh!” he yelled as the loose dirt below his hooves collapsed. The others watched him ride a dirt slide to the rocky creek floor. His snout and ears stuck out of a dirt pile. “I’m okay. No need to worry. I could use some water, though.”

Paco examined the slope. “I think we can use the pig’s newly made trail.” He led the way down the slope.

Benjamin went to the dirt pile and uncovered the pig with his hands. “There you go, Clementine!” Benjamin grunted as he pulled out the overweight pig. Roscoe and Malcolm were already drinking at the small pool of water.

“Hey, thanks for caring, guys.” The pig shook the dry dirt out of his bristly hairs.

“Clementine,” Roscoe said, “we can’t be helping you with every stupid mistake you–” Splash! The pig plopped in the water, drenching him horn to hoof. “Okay, I’ll just pretend my drinking water hasn’t been contaminated by a smelly swine.”

“Still tastes fine to me,” Malcolm said, lapping up a handful.

“I’ll stick with this.” Benjamin tapped a finger on his water bottle.

“With all due respect, My King, you don’t know what you’re missing,” Paco said.

When Clementine sneezed snot into the water the boy grinned. “I think I do.”

“Sire, do you have much food left?” Roscoe asked.

Benjamin looked through his pack and saw more fireworks than food. “Tomatoes, two granola bars, a sandwich. And Paco…” The dog’s head lifted. “One beef stick.” He handed out the food as Malcolm stood aside. “Malcolm, would you like anything?”

This pricked the raccoon’s conscience. He was going to betray them and it didn’t feel right taking their food. But he was so hungry. “No, thank you, boy.”

“Zats King Banjuhmun!” Clementine replied with a sticky mouthful of granola.

Benjamin held up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “I’ll split this with you.”

“Is that–one of those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the boss ate earlier?”

“Sure is! Try it.” He tore it and tossed the bigger half on the ground by Malcolm.

The raccoon looked it over. The smell made his mouth water.

He took a bite and chewed slowly, savoring the experience. “Mmmmm, this was so worth all the trouble!”

“What trouble?”

“Your collar. My brother and I fought off a lot of crows for that collar.”

Benjamin’s hand instinctively reached for the tag. “Marlon is your leader?”

“Mmmhmm.” He nodded, took another bite, and licked jelly from his sharp claws.

“He wanted you to get the collar so he could trade it for one of my sandwiches?”